Haley Stevens

Ms. STEVENS

Ms. STEVENS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Congressman Dean Phillips and Annalise Glick on their remarkable partnership and to wish them well on a lifetime of marriage. Congressman Phillips and Annalise were wed in a beautiful ceremony on September 14th, 2019 in Washington, DC. Surrounded by friends and family, their intimate wedding symbolizes their dedication to all who love them and the tremendous bond they share. As Congressman Phillips has gracefully navigated his first term in Congress standing up to corruption and advocating for transparency, we credit much of his success to the steady and creative hand of his wife, Annalise. Her life's work brings joy to so many, and we know it truly provides inspiration and solace to her husband. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Congressman Phillips and Annalise Glick for embarking on a new chapter in their lives and wishing them well on this profound journey of companionship through all their years.

Ms. STEVENS

Ms. STEVENS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Peter Jones and Jennifer Holcomb on their remarkable partnership and to wish them well on a lifetime of marriage. Peter and Jennifer were wed in a beautiful ceremony on July 20th, 2019 in Taos, New Mexico. Surrounded by friends and family, their intimate wedding symbolizes their deep commitment to one another and their future life together. Their union is the beginning of another journey, as Peter and Jen share an adventurous spirit and a drive to explore the world. With a loving home that includes their two canines Indy and Bear, they begin their married life. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Peter Jones and Jennifer Holcomb for embarking on a new chapter in their lives and wishing them well on their journey together.

Ms. STEVENS

Ms. STEVENS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the remarkable life of Abey Kappamammoottil Varughese. Abey was born on July 29, 1962 to K.T. and Chinnamma Varughese in Kerala, India. He was the youngest of four siblings and was greatly loved by his immediate and extended family. Abey loved to learn and excelled throughout his grade school years. He went on to receive a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from the University of Kerala. After immigrating to America, he proudly worked as a research and development chemist for much of his career. Abey and his wife Lishba were married on July 29, 1987. He and Lishba resided in Waterford, Michigan and celebrated over 30 years of marriage together. Abey passed away on June 30, 2019 surrounded by his family. He is survived by his wife Lishba, his son and daughter-in-law Jeremiah and Jincy Varughese, his daughter and son-in-law Hannah and Nathan Gyani, and his newest granddaughter, Ranni Varughese. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in reflecting on the life of Abey Kappamammoottil Varughese and his many contributions to his community in Southeast Michigan

Ms. STEVENS

Ms. STEVENS. Madam Speaker, I am happy to congratulate Amanda Martin and James Martin of Royal Oak, Michigan, on the birth of their new baby girl, Grace Marguerite Martin. Grace Marguerite Martin was born on September 16, 2019, at Ascension St. John Hospital in Detroit, Michigan at 10:54 a.m. Grace weighed eight pounds and six ounces and measured 20 and 8/10 inches long. I would also like to congratulate Grace's grandparents, Kathryn and Mark Higgins of Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan, Heather and Matthew Martin of Wilmington, North Carolina, Barbara Kortas of Warren, Michigan, and John Ponczocha of Wyandotte, Michigan, as well as her great grandmother, Marguerite Gore, of Grosse Point Woods, Michigan. Congratulations to the entire family as they welcome their newest addition of pure pride and joy.

Ms. STEVENS

Ms. STEVENS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Arab American and Chaldean Council (ACC) as they celebrate 40 years of service to Southeast Michigan. The ACC began as a one-person office in August 1979 with the vision to help the growing number of Arab immigrants in the Metro Detroit region. In the first year, over 400 clients sought assistance through their organization. Over the years they have served as a valuable resource for the immigrant community. They provide a variety of services including counseling, health care, language assistance, employment training, and job placement. More than that, they have created a safe place for immigrants to feel welcomed and supported as they acclimate to their new life in America. The ACC continues to be a beacon in the community, serving nearly 70,000 people and providing over 450,000 services in the last year. There is no doubt that the ACC will continue to make a positive difference in the years to come. I encourage everyone to visit Michigan and witness the rich cultural diversity, grit, and determination the citizens of our state have to offer. On its 40th anniversary, the Arab American and Chaldean Council has much to be proud of. I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating this tremendous milestone.

Ms. STEVENS

Ms. STEVENS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this cynical, partisan motion to recommit. The bill before us today is not a bailout. It is a backstop. It is a solution to a boiling point that we ignore at the peril of more than a million workers who are now faced with financial catastrophe in retirement. If we do nothing with this multiemployer pension crisis, taxpayers will pay the price. If we do nothing, our Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation will tumble. If we do nothing, 1.3 million hardworking Americans will lose what they paid into their entire working life. To the teamster who has played by the rules, to the carpenter who is already seeing a drop in his monthly benefits, we are here today to do something. But the ringing irony, that the very people opposing this bill are some of the very people who rushed to vote to pass a tax relief act for the wealthiest corporations and the biggest banks, ballooning our deficit by $1.9 trillion. We scratch our heads and we ask, Why is it that you cannot lift a finger for the middle class? Today, we deliver for the American people, and we save the pensions of those who have never asked for anything. Take it from me, my friends, I know what it is like to be on the phone with the PBGC when the auto industry needed our help. I know what that means when they tell us that these plans will run insolvent by 2025. I know what it is like to be working in the Department of the Treasury during the largest economic crisis of our times; when Republicans and Democrats came together, shelving political dogma, to make a uniquely Federal problem right. Butch Lewis is a good deal, and the kind of deal you make to protect our middle class and the economic security of so many. This is what you do. Make government work for us. Contribute to the best action in the outcome of the very people--pass Butch Lewis.

Ms. STEVENS

Ms. STEVENS. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to have been joined by my colleagues to introduce H.R. 2397, the American Manufacturing Leadership Act. I thank Chairwoman Johnson, Ranking Member Lucas, Representatives Balderson and Gonzalez, and the sponsors of the original Revitalize American Manufacturing Innovation Act, Representatives Kennedy and Reed, for their partnership in leading this legislation and for being such great champions for advanced manufacturing. Today is a great day. It is a great legislative day and a great day for American manufacturing, for innovation, for our workforce, and for the effective utilization of our Federal Government to advance, grow, and compete. Today, the American Manufacturing Leadership Act reauthorizes the Manufacturing USA program through bipartisan support and the willpower of our Federal Government. What began in Youngstown, Ohio, as a pilot initiative, the vision of a lab that would usher in 3D printing applications, workforce training programs, and the transfer of new technologies across the country and into the supply chain, is now one of the 14 institutes encompassing various research concentrations. Those include Lightweight Innovations for Tomorrow Institute located in Detroit; REMADE Institute in Rochester, New York; Digital Manufacturing Institute in Chicago; and PowerAmerica in North Carolina for battery technology. This work is in my blood, and it is part of why I came to Congress. It is also imperative for our role in global competition and for the investment in industrial policy and strategy vis-a-vis sound economic policy. We will ensure that Manufacturing USA can continue to contribute to the growth of our domestic advanced manufacturing base and an advanced manufacturing workforce to fill the high-skilled jobs of the future. AMLA authorizes agencies to renew their institutes for an additional period of funding following a fair review of the institutes' progress. It also strengthens the important partnership between Manufacturing USA and the Manufacturing Extension Partnership program, as well as other relevant programs across the Federal Government. Finally, the bill authorizes funding to allow the National Institute of Standards and Technology, NIST, and the Department of Energy to continue funding their current institutes and stand up at least one additional institute in fiscal year 2020 and each year thereafter. The real strength of these institutes lies in the consortium model, with the private partners contributing at least 50 percent of the funding. In 2017 alone, Manufacturing USA raised almost $180 million in investments from the private sector from nearly 1,300 manufacturers, universities, community colleges, government labs, and NGOs. They are only able to do this because the Federal Government sets the table and provides support in the planning, development, management, and operation of each institute. Manufacturing USA institutes provide critical U.S. global leadership in advanced manufacturing. The institutes serve as a unique collaborative platform for industry and academia to engage in best-in-class expertise to solve challenges and usher in new innovations. The program is making, I believe, incredible strides in workforce development for the future and existing workforce. For example, in 2017, the LIFT institute in Detroit reached over 160,000 students across the country through innovative web-based curricula, as well as in-person training programs. And the Manufacturing Institute in Chicago, the digital manufacturing lab, has used a taxonomic approach to codifying job roles specific to the changing nature of advanced manufacturing brought on by the Internet of Things. The United States will never be able to compete by bringing back the manufacturing of yesterday. We can celebrate our milestones--50 years since we landed on the Moon--as we usher in the innovations to improve the lives and outcomes of our manufacturing base for the next 50 years. The American Manufacturing Leadership Act has already been endorsed by the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, the American Society for Mechanical Engineers, the Bipartisan Policy Center, and the American Association of Manufacturers. To the small and midsized manufacturers, to the suppliers, to the complex web of craftsmanship, to the future engineer, to the computer programmer, to the student dreaming in Livonia, Michigan, about what they are going to do, this one is for you. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Ms. STEVENS

Ms. STEVENS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3153, the EFFORT Act. The opioid epidemic is one of the deadliest public health emergencies of our time, and it affects not just those addicted to opioids, but everyone around them as well. The numbers describing this epidemic are truly staggering. According to the CDC, between 1999 and 2017, almost 400,000 Americans died from an opioid-related overdose. These statistics have worsened over time, with the CDC reporting that the number of Americans who died as the result of an opioid-involved overdose in 2017 was six times higher than the number who died in 1999. My home State of Michigan has been hard-hit by this epidemic. Between 2016 and 2017, drug overdose deaths in Michigan increased by almost 14 percent, but it was not the only State suffering in this way. In the same timeframe, 23 States, including Michigan, had a significant increase in the rate of deaths from a drug overdose. It is long past time that we invest in significant resources in combating the opioid epidemic. As chairwoman of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee's Subcommittee on Research and Technology, I have seen firsthand the excellent work done by the National Science Foundation. Their previous work on addiction and opioids have resulted in critical insights into not only the psychological process of addiction, but the social impacts of addiction as well. Despite the progress made by the National Science Foundation, there is no doubt that further work is essential to combat the opioid epidemic. H.R. 3153 will take advantage of the NSF's strength in basic research across many disciplines, from neuroscience to social science, in collaboration with the expertise of the National Institutes of Health in public health. The research authorized in this bill will allow us to develop a more focused and effective policy to address the opioid epidemic. Mr. Speaker, I would like to commend my colleagues, Representative Wexton and Representative Baird, both of whom I have the privilege of working with on the Science, Space, and Technology Committee, for their excellent leadership on this bipartisan bill, and I urge all of my colleagues to join us in passing it.

Ms. STEVENS

Ms. STEVENS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1665, the Building Blocks of STEM Act, which supports STEM education research focused on early childhood education. There is a lot of discussion about the gender disparity in the STEM workforce and the leaky pipeline that widens the gap as women and girls continue through school. Although women make up half of the U.S. workforce, they make up less than a quarter of those employed in STEM occupations. The Building Blocks of STEM Act addresses these disparities by ensuring an equitable distribution of STEM education research funding for projects focused on young children and helping us understand why girls are encouraged or discouraged from participating in STEM activities. It also ensures that the National Science Foundation grants are awarded to entities that are working in partnership, such as research universities with local education agencies, to increase participation in computer science education. Computer science is particularly struggling to recruit and retain women, who make up less than 18 percent of the computer science workforce. The number is trending down, not up. This has a ripple effect on our country's ability to fill the high- skilled jobs of today and tomorrow. We need the next generation of young women to pursue STEM degrees, and we are not seeing the numbers we need. It is critical that we continue to work on STEM opportunities for middle-school-aged children and older, but we also need to ensure our Federal resources start at the beginning and support research on STEM education of younger students, starting at the beginning of their educational career. We know this all too well in Michigan. We know the structural and cultural barriers that exist for women interested in STEM from a very young age. Lack of support, unconscious or conscious gender bias, and stereotype threats are just a few. In several studies, when children were asked to draw a mathematician or a scientist, girls were twice as likely to draw a man as they were a woman, while boys almost universally drew men, often in a lab coat. The science is clear that children who engage in scientific activities from an early age, before middle school, develop positive attitudes toward science and are more likely to pursue STEM experiences and career opportunities later on. We need to be working toward interventions to increase the number of girls and women in these fields, and that is why I am so proud to sponsor this bill. I thank Chairwoman Johnson for her leadership on the House Science Committee toward increasing STEM opportunities for women, particularly for women of color. I introduced this bipartisan legislation with my colleague, Congressman Jim Baird, along with our counterparts in the Senate, Senators Jacky Rosen and Shelley Moore Capito. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle and in both Chambers of Congress to support this bill and send this important legislation swiftly to the President's desk.

Ms. STEVENS

Ms. STEVENS. Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of my amendment to H.R. 3055. This bipartisan amendment removes and adds $2 million from the Legal Activities account at the Department of Justice. I would like to make the intent of this amendment clear, that Congress is directing the DOJ's Environment and Natural Resources Division to allocate $2 million to enforce our Nation's animal welfare laws. Congress has taken meaningful steps over the past several decades, and especially in the past few years, to improve animal welfare and rid this country of heartless cruelty toward animals. These improvements include the passage of legislation like the Horse Protection Act, the crush video law, the Animal Welfare Act and animal fighting laws, which received overwhelming bipartisan support. While our animal rights laws have improved, there are currently insufficient resources to ensure that these laws are being adequately enforced. The Environment and Natural Resources Division, or ENRD, oversees many important functions, including pollution cleanup and wildlife protection. This division also has the unique responsibility to prosecute animal welfare crimes. ENRD lawyers at the Department of Justice are doing the best they can to defend the humane treatment of captive, farmed, and companion animals across the country, but there are currently not enough resources being allocated for them to go after animal welfare crimes. Failure to adequately enforce these laws harms communities and animals--the truly voiceless. Failure to enforce these laws leaves animals to suffer tremendously at the hands of people who force animals to fight to the death for pure entertainment and/or other cruel actions. Mr. Chair, I use this opportunity to urge DOJ to coordinate with USDA and continue working with the U.S. Attorney's offices to prosecute and investigate animal welfare crimes. Specifically, DOJ should create a dedicated animal cruelty crimes unit and allow for robust enforcement of animal welfare crimes. There should be dedicated personnel, including prosecutors, focused solely on these offenses. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment. I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Crist).

Ms. STEVENS. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Ms. STEVENS. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. STEVENS. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Ms. STEVENS

Ms. STEVENS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Albert ``Randy'' Randolph Judd on his remarkable life. Mr. Judd passed peacefully in his sleep on April 11, 2019 and is survived by his wife Patricia ``Pat'' Roan Judd of 46 years and his son Liam Judd. Known as a long-time leader in the great city of Birmingham, Randy served as a City Commissioner for 10 years and as Mayor in 1989. Mr. Judd also joyfully spent his time as a scuba instructor and underwater photographer who certified scuba students in local lakes. He remained deeply committed to philanthropic efforts related to the arts and media while supporting various charitable causes focused on those in need. Mr. Judd's remarkable life offers perspective on what makes communities and families thrive, a compassionate heart, quick wit, and an ability to show up when people need it most. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in reflecting on the remarkable life of Albert Randolph Judd and his many contributions to his community in Birmingham, Michigan.

Ms. STEVENS

Ms. STEVENS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Nisha Choksi and Hetal Patel on their remarkable relationship and to wish them well on a lifetime of marriage. Nisha and Hetal were wed in a beautiful ceremony on May 11, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. Surrounded by friends and family from across the globe, their three days of festivities symbolize their deep commitment to one another and their future life. Their wedding symbolizes the beginning of a journey that will carry them through the joys and hardships of life. Their ability to work together professionally and grow only closer is another testament to the powerful bond they share. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Nisha Choksi and Hetal Patel for embarking on a new chapter in their lives and wishing them well on their journey together.

Ms. STEVENS

Ms. STEVENS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Henry Graham Winterhalter and his baptism on Sunday, May 12, 2019. I have the honor of being the Godmother to Henry and the lifelong friend of his parents Lindsay and Brian Winterhalter. On May 12th we gathered at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, a religious institution open to all children to witness Henry's baptism. Born on June 28, 2018, Henry is now freed from sin and baptized to Christ. Without shedding a tear, and symbolizing his gentle heart and growing mind, Henry was baptized by Pastor John Spangler. As his sponsor, I promised before friends and family to nurture Henry Graham in the Christian faith and to serve as a role model throughout his life. His life a blessing, we are inspired by all Henry will become, a true gift from God. Let us all reflect on this as we work to make this country a better country for Henry. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in reflecting on another milestone in the life of Henry Graham Winterhalter and his bright future.

Ms. STEVENS

Ms. STEVENS. Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Ms. STEVENS. Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Ms. STEVENS. Madam Chair, I thank my colleague from North Carolina for his celebratory remarks. This is an important day in Congress because this is the role that we play; overseeing agencies, strengthening their work and delivering for the American people. I have got to applaud our chairwoman of Financial Services for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau work that she has done, particularly with this act. It is long overdue. We are thrilled to introduce this amendment that will bring the voice of small business to the table. Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. STEVENS. Madam Chair, I rise today in support of my amendment to H.R. 1500, the Consumers First Act. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is an essential agency that has protected millions of consumers and put more than $12 billion back in Americans' pockets. I worked in the Obama administration, in the United States Department of the Treasury, when the CFPB was first established in the wake of the financial crisis and saw firsthand how this agency has grown to serve as a force for accountability, transparency, and fairness on behalf of working Americans. That is why it is so important to restore and protect the CFPB from the attempts to weaken this critical agency. My amendment to the Consumers First Act ensures that community banks, credit unions, small business owners, or economic growth experts are appointed to serve as members of the Bureau's Consumer Advisory Board. The Consumer Advisory Board is a resource for the CFPB, providing the agency with expertise, analysis, and recommendations. We must keep the channels open to small businesses, smaller banks, credit unions, and community advocates. This amendment gives community- oriented small businesses a seat at the table when it comes to the CFPB's decisionmaking, while furthering the goal of ensuring our financial system works for everyone. We need that on-the-ground information. We need to hear from our small businesses. In my district, credit unions and community banks offer helpful resources to individual borrowers as they look to purchase a home, start a small business, or expand a manufacturing order. These institutions have invaluable knowledge that we should take advantage of as we work to protect consumers from fraud and abuse. My district, Michigan 11, is also home to several thousand small businesses, including manufacturers and the country's most robust automotive supply chain. We have got retail, we have got restaurants, and we have the capability to continue to unlock the channels of innovation, but we need a CFPB that works for us, and we need the voice of the small business at the table. Our small business owners contribute so much to our communities, and they have a finger on the pulse of our economy more than anyone else. We should welcome the expertise of these key stakeholders at the CFPB as they continue to do incredible work for the American people and our economy. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment. Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. STEVENS

Ms. STEVENS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in a jubilant manner, because every American deserves to be treated equally under the law. I rise today in support of the basic and common principles enshrined in our Constitution, of liberty and justice for all, that no person shall be denied or be discriminated by their sexual orientation. I rise today in support of the Equality Act that we must proudly pass today led by my friend, David Cicilline. For in this country, in this year, 2019, we must choose acceptance to grow our economy and to promote the general welfare. I rise because it is time to pass the Equality Act for full civil rights protections for all LGBTQ Americans. So many sacrificed so I could stand here today and speak these words. Passing this bill will send a powerful, bipartisan message to members of the LGBTQ community that they are not second-class citizens. Today we must vote to pass the Equality Act.

Ms. STEVENS

Ms. STEVENS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Village of Milford's 150th anniversary of incorporation on April 12, 2019. Located in southwest Oakland County, Milford began with the building of a sawmill by Elizur and Stanley Ruggles in 1832 and was incorporated in 1869. Hydropower made it possible for Milford to become one of the first communities to have electric lights in 1892. Known for its small-town charm and rich history, the North Milford Historic District was entered into the National Register of Historic Places on April 21, 2000. Downtown Milford is recognized for its lively events and entertainment as well as its local shopping and dining. Milford is also home to the General Motors Proving Ground, the world's first dedicated automobile testing facility. The Proving Ground has been used to introduce industry-leading safety features such as front center air bags. The facility has also helped create a global standard for frontal crash test dummies and was the first rollover test facility. I encourage everyone to come to Michigan's 11th congressional district and, as we say, ``meet me in Milford.'' On its 150th anniversary, the Village of Milford has much to celebrate. I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating this tremendous milestone.

Ms. STEVENS

Ms. STEVENS. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the subject of my Special Order.

Ms. STEVENS. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. Wild), my friend.

Ms. STEVENS. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Levin), my friend and fellow Michigander.